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There may be biblical antecedents to Smith's term "Wealth of Nations". Such antecedents
were common in mercantilist times, one of the best known being William Petty's wish to
express himself "in Terms of Number, Weight, or Measure", which came straight out of the
Book of Wisdom (11.20): "...but you have disposed all things by measure and number and
weight". The expression "wealth of nations" is found, for example, in Isaiah 60.5: "For
the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be
brought to you" and Isaiah 60.11 "Your gates shall stand open constantly; day and night
they shall not be closed But shall admit to you the wealth of nations, and their kings, in
the vanguard". Also, Isaiah 61.6: "You shall eat the wealth of the nations and boast of
riches from them".
 
Andrea Maneschi 
 
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